A word of Turkish origin normally used to describe the color of a horse, it means dappled, speckled or mottled. The term has long been used in the trade to describe the small variations in hue and saturation found within a single color in a carpet.
Referring to the hue or color found within many older rugs, particularly those woven by nomadic tribes, the variation in color usually is the result of traditional techniques of wool dyeing, or through the introduction of a new batch of wool while weaving the rug. Abrash is a natural feature of handmade rugs as well as the natural beauty of these rugs. Although such inconsistencies may be perceived as 'flaws' in coloration, abrash is actually a much more intimate and complex characteristic.